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A determined Newtowncunningham woman is set to begin a nursing degree at university this year, despite leaving school before doing her Leaving Certificate.
Mum-of-three Elaine Tinney had been a stay-at-home mum for years before deciding to go back to education in 2024.
Her dream of nursing took flight thanks to a Tertiary Access Route into a Bachelors’ Degree. This year of study in Letterkenny with Donegal Education Training Board (ETB) provides a unique access route into the Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in General Nursing Degree with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), with no points or no fees needed in the first year with Donegal ETB.
“I wanted to do it for myself,” said Elaine.
“I’d been in a care position for a long time so I knew I wanted to do healthcare. The tertiary course was introduced to me at the ETB Further Education and Training [FET] Fair and I found it so interesting.
“I thought there was never a chance for me to go and do nursing. I left school early because I became a mum at a young age and I didn’t have a Leaving Certificate. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone.
Now that Elaine has completed the nine months of study with Donegal ETB, achieving distinctions, she is ready to progress to ATU.
Going back to education at her age was the start of an exciting new chapter for Elaine, who is now 31.
“I was quite nervous at the start, but everybody was so welcoming. Everything was explained well, and we took our time,” she said.
“You do need to be focused and make the time to study, but if you have the determination, you find the time.”
Elaine Tinney, who took Donegal ETB’s Tertiary Access Route into General Nursing (BSc.)
Students cover modules in Communications, Anatomy and Physiology, Care of the Older Person, Care Skills, Human Growth and Development, Nursing Theory and Practice and Infection Prevention and Control.
Elaine adds: “I liked the real-life skills we got in Nursing Theory and Practice. We were hands-on taking blood pressure and taking vital signs.”
Elaine soon put her training into action during the Work Practice portion of the course, which she completed in a residential home for young adults with a disability.
“I learned so much in my work experience. It was fantastic to see all the training come together,” she said.
Students also got out of the classroom for team building experiences. A day trip to Gartan for outdoor activities near the beginning of the course helped everyone to gel together.
“It was good to get out of the classroom and into the fresh air,” said Elaine. “We were all just starting to get to know each other at that stage.”
Tertiary Access Route students are also offered all the support that Donegal ETB has, from guidance counselling to advice on completing assignments, such as referencing and structuring. Gaining these skills gives students the extra confidence to succeed at undergraduate level.
Students can also access facilities at ATU such as the library and sports facilities.
On completion of the programme, students are awarded a QQI Level 5 Award in Healthcare and, with a minimum of five distinctions in key modules, they will progress automatically into Year 1 of the BSc degree in General Nursing with ATU in its Castlebar, Letterkenny, St. Angela’s or Sligo campuses.
“It opens so many doors for you,” said Elaine. “I now have the foundation and the basic knowledge for going into ATU.”
Over forty tertiary degree courses across the country are giving more students than ever the chance to pursue their ambitions without being tied down by the CAO points race.
Elaine says it’s a path she would highly recommend:
“If you really want to do Nursing, this makes it possible. Especially if anybody doesn’t have the points, you can get all the knowledge and skills you need before going to college.
“It’s a great course, go for it!”
Donegal ETB’s Tertiary Access Route into General Nursing (BSc.) is now open for September applications from school leavers and those returning to education – you can apply here: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=483265.
Fíoraítear brionglóid Conallach mamaí de bheith ina haltra trí bhealach Treasach
Tá bean dhiongbháilte an Bhaile Nua le toiseacht ar chéim altranais ar an ollscoil i mbliana, in ainneoin gur fhág sí an scoil sula ndearna sí a hArdteist.
Bhí Elaine Tinney, a bhfuil triúr páiste aici, ina máthair cois teallaigh ar feadh na mblianta sular shocraigh sí dul ar ais chuig an oideachas in 2024.
Cuireadh tús lena brionglóid de bheith ina haltra a bhuí le Bealach Rochtana Treasach go Céim Bhaitsiléara. Tugann an bhliain staidéir seo i Leitir Ceanainn le Bord Oiliúna Oideachais (ETB) Dhún na nGall bealach rochtana ar leith duit chuig Céim Baitsiléara Eolaíochta (BSc) Onóracha san Altranas Ginearálta le hOllscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh (ATU), gan aon phointí nó gan aon táillí de dhíth don chéad bhliain le ETB Dhún na nGall.
“Bhí mé ag iarraidh é a dhéanamh ar mo shon féin”, arsa Elaine.
“Bhí mé i ról cúraim ar feadh i bhfad, mar sin bhí a fhios agam gur mhaith liom tabhairt faoi chúram sláinte. Cuireadh an cúrsa treasach in iúl domh ag aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna [FET] an ETB agus bhí suim as cuimse agam ann.
“Níor shíl mé riamh go mbeadh deis agam tabhairt faoin altranas. D’fhág mé an scoil go luath siocair go raibh mé i mo mháthair ag aois óg agus nach raibh an Ardteist agam. Is deis iontach é seo do dhuine ar bith.”
Agus na naoi mí staidéir curtha i gcrích ag Elaine anois le ETB Dhún na nGall, agus gradaim bainte amach aici, tá sí réidh le dul ar aghaidh go dtí ATU.
Ba thús le caibidil nua spreagúil é do Elaine, atá 31 bhliain d’aois anois, nuair a d’fhill sí ar an oideachas san aois ina bhfuil sí.
“Bhí mé iontach neirbhíseach ar dtús, ach chuir achan duine fáilte Uí Cheallaigh romham. Míníodh gach rud go maith, agus ghlac muid ár gcuid ama”, a dúirt sí.
“Caithfidh tú a bheith dírithe agus an t-am a ghlacadh chun staidéar a dhéanamh, ach má tá an diongbháilteach agat, gheobhaidh tú an t-am.”
Clúdaíonn mic léinn modúil i gCumarsáid, Anatamaíocht agus Fiseolaíocht, Cúram an Duine Scothaosta, Scileanna Cúraim, Fás agus Forbairt an Duine, Teoiric agus Cleachtas Altranais agus Cosc agus Rialú Ionfhabhtaithe.
Deir Elaine fosta: “Thaitin na scileanna fhíorshaoil a fuair muid maidir le Teoiric agus Cleachtas Altranais liom. Bhí muid praiticiúil maidir le brú fola agus comharthaí beatha a ghlacadh.”
Chuir Elaine a hoiliúint i bhfeidhm go luath le linn na coda Cleachtais Oibre den chúrsa, ar chuir sí i gcrích i dteach cónaithe d’aosaigh óga atá faoi mhíchumas.
“D’fhoghlaim mé an oiread sin le linn mo thaithí oibre. Bhí sé go hiontach an oiliúint go léir a fheiceáil ag teacht le chéile”, a dúirt sí.
Bhí deis ag mic léinn an seomra ranga a fhágáil fosta fá choinne eispéiris tógála foirne. Bhí turas lae go Gartán fá choinne gníomhaíochtaí allamuigh ag tús an chúrsa ina chuidiú maidir le gach duine a tharraingt le chéile.
“Ba mhaith an rud an seomra ranga a fhágáil agus aer úr a fháil”, a dúirt Elaine. “Bhí muid go léir ag cur tús le haithne a chur ar a chéile ag an phointe sin”
Cuirtear an tacaíocht go léir do mhic léinn ar fáil ar an Bhealach Rochtana Treasach fosta, ó threoirchomhairleoireacht go comhairle maidir le tascanna a chomhlánú, amhail tagairt agus struchtúrú. Má fhaightear na scileanna seo, tugtar muinín bhreise do na daltaí le go n-éireoidh leo ag leibhéal fochéime.
Is féidir le mic léinn rochtain a fháil ar áiseanna ag ATU cosúil leis an leabharlann agus áiseanna spóirt.
Nuair a chríochnaítear an clár, bronntar gradam QQI Leibhéal 5 i gCúram Sláinte ar mhic léinn agus, le cúig phas le gradam ar a laghad i bpríomhmhodúil, rachaidh siad ar aghaidh go huathoibríoch go dtí Bliain 1 den chéim BSc in Altranas Ginearálta le ATU sna campais ag Caisleán an Bharraigh, Leitir Ceanainn, Coláiste San Aingeal nó Sligeach.
“Osclaíonn sé an oiread sin doirse duit,” a dúirt Elaine. Tá an bhunchloch agus an t-eolas bunúsach agam anois chun dul isteach san ATU.”
Tá níos mó ná daichead cúrsa céime treasacha ar fud na tíre a thugann deis do níos mó mac léinn ná riamh a n-uaillmhianta a leanúint gan a bheith gafa leis an rás pointí a bhaineann le CAO.
Deir Elaine gur mholfadh sí go mór é:
“Más mian leat tabhairt faoin altranas, cumasaítear thú sin a dhéanamh leis an chúrsa seo. Go háirithe mura bhfuil na pointí ag aon duine, thig leat an t-eolas agus na scileanna go léir atá de dhíth ort a fháil sula dtéann tú chuig an choláiste.
“Is cúrsa iontach é, tapaigh an deis!”
Tá Bealach Rochtana Treasach ETB Dhún na nGall ar Altranas Ginearálta (BSc.) ar oscailt anois le haghaidh iarratais i mí Mheán Fómhair ó lucht fágála scoile agus iad siúd atá ag filleadh ar oideachas – is féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh anseo: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=483265.
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